Contact Lenses

Contact lenses are a great alternative to glasses for people who play sports, aren't happy with the vision they get from glasses or who may prefer their appearance without them.

Contacts can basically be broken down into three different materials, soft lenses, gas permeable lenses, and hard lenses. Most people wear some sort of soft disposable contact lens. Disposable lenses can be broken down into daily disposable, weekly, two week, monthly and a quarterly wearing schedule. With disposable lenses there is less cleaning and care necessary compared to other types. No type of contact lens should be slept in.

There are also bifocal, progressive and contact lenses that can correct for astigmatism. Some people who need reading glasses opt for monovision, which is one lens for reading and the other for distance. Colored contacts can change a person eye color or just enhance the natural color of the eye. There are even contact lenses specifically made for people who suffer from dry eye syndrome.

Getting Started with Contacts

The first step to becoming a contact lens wearer is an examination and fitting. During the examination and fitting the doctor will perform many procedures including a tear film evaluation and corneal evaluation. A trial contact lens will be inserted into the eye to determine which lens is the best fit for the wearer. The next step is teaching the new contact lens wearer how to insert and remove the contacts into their own eye. After wearing the trial lens for about a week a follow up fitting is performed and if all is well a supply of contacts will be dispensed to the new wearer.

Remember contacts are a medical device and a prescription from the doctor is needed. Also a yearly evaluation is necessary to be able to keep ordering contacts.